End effectors, surgical stapling devices, and methods of using same
AssigneeStandard Bariatrics, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Thompson, Ben Thompson, Richard P. Nuchols, Russell L. Holscher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end effector for use by a surgeon to staple an anatomical structure of a patient during a surgical procedure includes an anvil and a cartridge. Each of the anvil and the cartridge has a face that is positionable on the anatomical structure. The anvil is coupled to the cartridge at first and second ends. The anvil is movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the faces at the first ends that is different from a second gap between the faces at the second ends.
Claims20
An end effector for a medical device, the end effector comprising:
- an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a first face;
- and
- a cartridge that is operably configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a second face, the first end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the second end of the anvil, the anvil being movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the first face and the second face at the first end of the anvil and the first end of the cartridge that is differently size from a second gap between the first face and the second face at the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge.
A method of stapling an anatomical structure during a surgical medical procedure comprising:
- providing an end effector including;
- an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and a first face;
- and
- a cartridge that is operably configured to house a plurality of staples and that includes a first end, a second end, and a second face, the first end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the first end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge being movably coupled to the second end of the anvil, the anvil being movable relative to the cartridge to define a first gap between the first face and the second face at the first end of the anvil and the first end of the cartridge that is differently size from a second gap between the first face and the second face at the second end of the anvil and the second end of the cartridge;
- inserting the end effector through a trocar into a patient adjacent an anatomical structure, the cartridge including a plurality of staples;
- positioning the anvil and the cartridge on opposing sides of the anatomical structure;
- clamping the end effector to the anatomical structure to secure the end effector relative to the anatomical structure;
- and
- actuating the end effector to staple the anatomical structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.